This blog will show the realities of living everyday with Lupus. It will not always be pretty but it will always be honest. You have been warned!

What is Lupus?

Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body). Chronic means that the signs and symptoms tend to last longer than six weeks and often for many years. In lupus, something goes wrong with your immune system, which is the part of the body that fights off viruses, bacteria, and germs ("foreign invaders," like the flu). Normally our immune system produces proteins called antibodies that protect the body from these invaders. Autoimmune means your immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and your body’s healthy tissues ("auto" means "self") and creates autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue. These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body.
Lupus is also a disease of flares (the symptoms worsen and you feel ill) and remissions (the symptoms improve and you feel better). Lupus can range from mild to life-threatening and should always be treated by a doctor. With good medical care, most people with lupus can lead a full life.
Lupus is not contagious, not even through sexual contact. You cannot "catch" lupus from someone or "give" lupus to someone.
Lupus is not like or related to cancer. Cancer is a condition of malignant, abnormal tissues that grow rapidly and spread into surrounding tissues. Lupus is an autoimmune disease, as described above.
Lupus is not like or related to HIV (Human Immune Deficiency Virus) or AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). In HIV or AIDS the immune system is underactive; in lupus, the immune system is overactive.
Our research estimates that at least 1.5 million Americans have lupus. The actual number may be higher; however, there have been no large-scale studies to show the actual number of people in the U.S. living with lupus.
It is believed that 5 million people throughout the world have a form of lupus.
Lupus strikes mostly women of childbearing age (15-44). However, men, children, and teenagers develop lupus, too.
Women of color are 2-3 times more likely to develop lupus.
People of all races and ethnic groups can develop lupus.
More than 16,000 new cases of lupus are reported annually across the country.
(This information is from the Lupus Foundation of America webpage)

Get me a bromine, and put some gin in it

Standard

Cover of The Women (Keepcase)

The title is one of my favorite lines in one of my favorite movies. It was made in 1939 and is a classic in many ways. First, it stars only women, not a single man in the film. The stars range from Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, and Rosalind Russell, not to mention others like Hedda Hopper, Joan Fontaine and many more! It has the most actors who have lines as well.

The quotes are many, like the title above. If you like movies, you will love this one! It is a woman’s movie and it is such a farce and comedy that you will laugh out loud. What is this movie you may ask? The movie is entitled “The Women” and is directed by George Cukor. Look it up and check it out! I highly recommend it!